Brian Dietzen
The actor who turned a one-day guest spot into a beloved, decade-spanning role as the earnest heart of a hit TV procedural.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American actor·Birthday: November 14·Generation X
Biography
Brian Dietzen arrived on 'NCIS' in 2004 for what was meant to be a single episode, playing the slightly nervous assistant to the medical examiner. But something about Jimmy Palmer clicked. His endearing awkwardness, his genuine warmth, and his gradual growth from a fumbling assistant to a confident, board-certified pathologist provided the long-running series with one of its most reliable sources of heart. Dietzen, a Colorado native who studied theater at the University of Colorado Boulder, had done bit parts in films like 'From Justin to Kelly' before landing this career-defining role. Over the years, he quietly became a fixture, promoted to series regular in 2012. He evolved Palmer through personal tragedy, marriage, and fatherhood, all while maintaining the character's essential decency. In a show built on crime-solving machinery, Dietzen ensured there was always a human pulse.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Brian was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Brian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Dr. Jimmy Palmer on 'NCIS' for over 20 seasons, from a recurring guest to a series regular.
- Co-wrote the emotionally charged 2021 episode 'The First Day,' which dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Has directed multiple episodes of 'NCIS' in its later seasons.
- Performed on stage in regional theater productions prior to his television breakthrough.
Did You Know?
He is an avid fan of the Denver Broncos and the Colorado Avalanche.
He is a skilled guitarist and has performed music publicly.
He originally auditioned for a different role on 'NCIS' before being cast as Jimmy Palmer.
He and his wife have two children, and the family resides in Los Angeles.
